Petoskey Stone

treading north

along the shore

i comb the dune grass through my hands

lift my gaze and there it stays

until two circling eagles land

stretch my stride to beat the tide

i climb up higher for dry sand

then with stealth i find myself

upon a hill where two pines stand

and on this white sand

however far i roam forever

will i find myself back home

eagle feather sturgeon bone

and in my left hand a petoskey stone

in a lull cry two white gulls

they clamor close to where i stand

night will soon fall on the dunes

i gather branches with both hands

northern air oh sleeping bear

oh weathered birches torn and tanned

winter’s long the wind is strong

but look at you how still you stand

when i’m done just as the sun

i shall set heavy upon this land

before my shade i’ll hope

i’ve made a faint impression in the sand